The Sequestered Jurors
 by: Hankster

© 2021 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

hankster@tickiestories.us

One

Joseph Gallo grew up in abject poverty.  There was never a father in sight, and his mother was an alcoholic.  Whatever little she earned, she pissed away on booze, literally.  He and his kid brother roamed the streets of Manhattan scavenging for food, and for whatever goodies they could find in garbage cans.  The best that could be said about his mother was that she was able to maintain their tiny one-bedroom apartment in a building that should have been condemned years ago.

Joe’s kid brother, Jimmy, saw no way out of his plight.  He hung out with, and eventually joined a gang.  They were constantly in trouble with authority, and they delighted in robbing mama and papa stores.  He was arrested and sent to jail, where he was killed in a prison brawl at the age of nineteen.

Joe was a smart kid.  Early on he concluded that the way out of the slums was to get an education, followed by a good job.  His dreams were limitless.  He worked his ass off in high school.  His grades were so good, he got a scholarship to Columbia University, an Ivy League School.  It was there that Joe became a first-class bigot.

So many of his fellow students were wealthy.  They talked constantly about where they were going this weekend, or about spending the summer in Paris or The Hamptons.  While they talked about their leisure pursuits, Joe had to look for summer and part time jobs to sustain himself.  He began to harbor a great resentment for anyone with money.  It never occurred to him that money did not define the man.

Joe majored in Finance.  Because he had a burning desire to help the downtrodden poor people of the city, he was able to secure a job as a loan officer at the main branch of a major bank.  As loan officers go, he tried to be benevolent.  It was a start, and he dreamed of being president of the bank someday.  He just kept on dreaming of attaining higher and higher status.  Anyone who knew him had no doubt that he would realize all his goals, because he worked so hard to fulfill his dreams.

He now had the means to rent a small one-bedroom apartment in a good neighborhood adjacent to Greenwich Village.  He left his slum apartment, and never saw his mother again.  He was ready to fall into the mainstream of New York City’s life, gay life, that is.    Over the years, Joe had become a practicing homosexual.  He was a beautiful man, tall and muscled.  His eyes were a deep brown, and his hair was jet black.  He wore his hair slightly on the long side.  He looked like an Italian stallion, and he was.  He was uncut and four inches flaccid.  He rose to seven and a half inches when he was aroused, which was often.   

His favorite gay bar was The Male Room in Greenwich Village. All he had to do was to walk into the bar, and he was hit on.  He had his own nearby apartment, and a place to entertain.  He always had company a couple of times in mid-week, and all weekend long.

Joe had sufficient money for his modest needs, and he didn’t realize that he was becoming the kind of man he despised.  One Friday, he told a co-worker that he was going to Fire Island for the weekend with some friends.  If someone had said that to him, he probably would have cringed, and assumed the man was wealthy, and therefore, some sort of snob.

*****

Andrew Calder could not have had an upbringing more dissimilar than that of Joe’s.  His father was the owner and president of a successful microchip manufacturing company, and Andy lacked for nothing.  His alma mater was Princeton.  He really did spend his summers in the family’s second home in East Hampton.  He also spent many weekends with friends; hiking, skiing, snowboarding, or just travelling somewhere.  Joe would have hated him.

Andy was just as good looking as Joe, but in a Waspy sort of way.  He was about Joe’s height, but he had blond hair, blue eyes, and unlike Joe, he was cut.  They were the same size flaccid and erect.

They had two more things in common.  They both went to Ivy League schools, and they were both gay.

They travelled in different worlds and would never have met, except for an act of fate.  They were both summoned to jury duty on the same day.  Joe could not shirk his responsibility even if he wanted to.  The bank he worked for expected all their employees to do the right thing, and it was considered their duty to serve as jurors.

Andy worked for his father, who wasn’t around the office much anymore.   He had other pursuits to attend to.  Andy could get away whenever he wanted to, but his father had to cover for him in the office.  Sometimes he could take over, and sometimes he couldn’t.  

Andy had never served on a jury before, and he thought it would be fun, and a new experience for him.  His father agreed to come to the office during the time of his service.

Neither he nor Joe tried to wiggle out of doing their duty, as so many others do.

Two

On the Monday morning they reported to the courthouse, they were taken into a large auditorium.  Dozens of prospective jurors were in the room.  Call it fate; call it the work of guardian angels, but the two men found seats together.   It was mid-February and they were both wearing heavy winter coats, which they soon removed.  Beneath the coats, they wore very similar business suits.  The suits were exceptionally conservative.  Neither man’s attire hinted of great wealth nor great poverty either.

Joe continued to harbor dislike for rich people.  If he knew that he was sitting next to a millionaire, he probably would have moved his seat.  He had no idea that Andy was wealthy.  As far as Joe was concerned, Andy was just another prospective juror. 

Joe was so attracted to Andy that he held out his hand, and said, “Hi, my name’s Joe Gallo.”

Neither suspected that the other was gay.  Their gaydar wasn’t honed fine enough, but Andy was also very attracted to Joe.  He returned Joe’s handshake.  “Andy Calder,” he responded. 

Nothing much was happening in the auditorium, so they began to chat.  Joe learned that Andy worked for a microchip manufacturer.  He neglected to tell Joe that his family owned the business.  Andy had his own apartment in the East Eighties.  It was in an upscale neighborhood.  Still, you didn’t have to be a millionaire to live there.

Andy learned that Joe worked for a national bank.  When he heard where Joe lived, he knew immediately that it was a gay neighborhood.  His heart began to pump faster.  He dared hope that Joe was gay.

Their chat was interrupted by a court officer, who made a few announcements of great interest.

“You will be taken into one of the court rooms in batches of twenty-four,” he told them.  “There, the two opposing lawyers will interview you.  If you are selected, you will be told when and where to report for jury duty.  If you are not selected, you will be free to leave, and you will receive a check for one day’s service.  It will be mailed to you, and your obligation will be concluded, at least, for this time.”

Today could be the end of the ride, and both men were disappointed.  Andy wondered if he dared ask Joe to have dinner with him.  He decided to wait and see what would happen.

Group after group was taken to court rooms to be interviewed, but Andy and Joe remained firmly planted in their seats.  Each man went to the bathroom at least once, but not together.

At approximately 11:30 AM, the court officer told the remaining prospective jurors to take a lunch break.  “There are dozens of coffee shops and luncheonettes in the area,” he said.  “Please be back here by 1 PM.”

Joe and Andy left together, and they were in very good spirits.  At lunch they learned more and more about each other.  Andy never told anyone how wealthy he was, and fortunately the subject never came up.  Joe was so hot to pursue a relationship with this Adonis, that he even told Andy that he was gay, and he hoped it didn’t make any difference to him.

Andy grabbed Joe’s hands and smiled.  “I’m gay also,” he said.  “Please have dinner with me tonight.”

“There’s nothing I want to do more, Andy.  Do you know Benny’s Grill in The Village?  The food is great.  Wanna go there?”

“Sure, it’s one of my favorite restaurants also,” Andy agreed.

About an hour after they returned from lunch, they were called into a courtroom in the same batch of twenty-four.  Joe was the third prospective juror to be called to the witness stand for questioning.  Andy paid close attention.  If Joe was selected, he would do all he could to be selected also.  If Joe was dismissed, he would answer the questions knowing full well that one of the lawyers would dismiss him as well.

Joe was asked a lot of questions which were mostly meaningless, even inane.  Then he was asked a question which was a real zinger.  The defense attorney was the one who asked it.

“If the defendant was a high-profile celebrity, and a man of great wealth, would it color your ability to make a fair decision?”

Joe’s brilliant mind went into high gear.  The defendant was someone who was rich and famous.  Joe believed that rich people thought they could do anything they wanted to do, and that they could buy their way out of anything with their wealth.  He wanted to be on that jury badly.  He wanted to make sure the defendant got what was coming to him.

He answered the question with a whopper of a lie.  “I’m not influenced by a man’s social status, his race, religion or sexual orientation.  I believe that I can objectively weigh all the evidence, and decide based solely on the facts submitted.  As a loan officer for a bank, I do that every day.”

Joe was accepted to be on the jury. 

Andy answered all the question in a manner that he knew would please both attorneys, and he too was accepted.

By the time a jury was chosen, consisting of twelve people, and two alternates, it was a little past five PM.  The trial was not scheduled to begin until the following Monday, an entire week away.  The jurors were told where and when to report.  

Joe suggested to Andy that they go directly to Benny’s from the courthouse.  “We can have a couple of drinks and then order dinner.  I live walking distance from Benny’s.  Maybe you’d like to see my place.  It’s very modest, but if you cared to spend some time with me there, I’d really be happy.”

“I like you, Joe,” Andy said.  “Nothing would give me more pleasure than to make you happy.  Let’s get going.”

There was no question in either of their minds that they would get laid tonight.  How wrong they both were.  They didn’t get laid; they made love that night.  They were already enamored with one another.  It is doubtful that either one knew what he was eating that evening at the restaurant.

When they entered Joe’s apartment, they grabbed hold of each other and began a kissing session that went on and on.  They never came up for air.  Neither could bring himself to abort the marathon.  All the while they were undressing each other, they were still kissing.

When they were both naked, they said simultaneously, “You’re so beautiful.”

Finally, they had enough kissing and gawking.  Andy said, “This time, I want to suck your cock, and when you’re very hard, you can fuck me.  You can return the favor later tonight or first thing in the morning.”

“You’re going to spend the night with me?” Joe asked incredulously.  “Thank God.”

“Not only tonight, but every night for the rest of our lives.  I don’t know how this happened so fast, but I’m madly in love with you, Joe.”

“I can’t explain it either.  I just know that I feel the same way you do.”

Joe provided lube and condoms, which he put on his nightstand.  They jumped into bed.  Joe lay on his back with his legs spread.  His cock was straight up in the air, throbbing with desire.  Andy got on his knees between Joe’s legs and started to give him a long-lasting trip around the world, which included sucking his toes and rimming his ass.  This was followed by the most sensual oral sex he had ever desired to give to anyone. 

When Joe was beginning to cum, Andy rolled a condom down his dick.  He lubed Joe’s masterpiece, and then he generously greased his own ass.  He straddled his new (his first) love and sat down on him.  When Joe’s cock could go in no further, they began to pump.

They had simultaneous orgasms and didn’t have to wait until “later.”  They were both so frenzied that Joe was able to reciprocate immediately after they came.  Neither of them ever lost his erection.

As they fell asleep, wrapped up in each other’s arms, Andy whispered, “We were made to be together, Joe.  I love you.”

They fell asleep smiling and fondling one another.

During the rest of the week, they both went to work, but they alternated sleeping in each other’s apartments.  Andy, for all his wealth, lived simply.  Joe could not tell from the furnishings in the apartment how wealthy his lover was.  Good thing, too.

By agreement, when they entered the courtroom on Monday morning, they acted like two strangers about to meet for the first time.  They were taken to a jury room and instructed to choose a foreman.  Nobody wanted the job, so they asked the bailiff for a deck of cards that they could draw from.  The low man got the responsibility of being the foreman.  Aces were high.  It took two draws until there were no duplicates of the low draw.

With that done, they were taken back to the courtroom and seated in the jury box.  The courtroom was still empty.  The bailiff laid down a few rules and instructions, and then he described the nature of the case.

“The defendant in this case is a very high-profile celebrity,” the bailiff said.  “As such we have been instructed to sequester the jury so that you will not be approached or pestered by the media.  Frankly, we don’t want the press to try to bribe you into revealing any privileged information, and allowing them to try the case in the newspapers.  You’ll be quartered two to a room, and you’ll be bussed back and forth to the courthouse.  Lunch and breakfast will be delivered to the jury room here in the courthouse.  You will select your dinner from a menu, and it will be delivered to your hotel room.  Please go home and pack a bag for a week.  If you need help with a ride, see me.  Make sure that you’re back here by 1 PM.  The trial will begin shortly after that.”

Although they needed no help, Joe and Andy ran up to the bailiff and requested to room together.

He looked at them suspiciously, made a note, and mumbled, “No problem.”

They packed a bag, as instructed, and then called their offices to inform them that they would be out of touch until the trial was over, because they would be sequestered.

The trial began at 2:30 PM that afternoon.   When the defendant came in, every member of the jury gasped.  He was a very handsome man of about forty, and Carlo Barroni was instantly recognizable.  He was a famous film producer and director.  Almost every movie he made was a huge success, earned lots of money, and won multiple awards.  He had been accused of sexual harassment and non-consensual sex by two young women whom he met at a party. 

Both lawyers presented their opening arguments, which were long and boring.  No witnesses were called to the stand that afternoon.  The trial was adjourned for the day. 

Joe and Andy couldn’t wait to get to their room for the night.  They wanted to hop right into bed, but they had to wait until room service delivered their meals, and then picked up the dirty dishes. 

While they were waiting for dinner, Andy said, “There’s one thing about this case that really bugs me.”

“We’re not supposed to discuss the case, but what’s that?” Joe asked.

“Well, Carlo is very rich.  He’s a hunk, and as handsome as the year is long.  He must have women throwing themselves at him all the time, especially young, aspiring actresses.  Why would he have to force himself on any woman?  These girls may have tried to extort him, and when he wouldn’t pay up, they went to trial.  They may have thought he’d want to avoid the negative publicity, and he would give into their demands.  I must admire his tenacity.  These things happen to wealthy men all the time.  Even if they’re innocent, they usually cave in to avoid scandal.”

“I disagree,” Joe said.  “To a rich man there’s no such thing as too much of anything, whether it’s power, money or sex.  Maybe these two women appealed to him, and he tried to lure them into bed, no matter how many other women he had fucked.  It was the thrill of the chase for him.  Rich people think that they can do anything they want, and their money will buy them out of any bad situation.”

Andy was disturbed and very uncomfortable by Joe’s display of prejudice against people with money.  All he could say was, “Well, we’ll weigh the evidence carefully, and make a decision when the time comes.”

Joe further exacerbated the situation by saying, “I’ve already made up my mind.  He’s the guiltiest defendant there ever was.  I for one am not going to let him get away with it.”

Andy did indeed drop the conversation.  He was no longer in the mood for sex that night, but he didn’t know how he could avoid it.  Little by little as they ate their dinner, Andy’s love for Joe, and his overwhelming lust took over.  He wanted Joe no matter what.

After the dishes were removed, Andy double locked their door.  When he turned around, Joe was already naked and lying on his back on one of the two queen-sized beds in the room.  Andy undressed rapidly and fell on top of Joe in a sixty-nine position.  They sucked and fucked each other until the wee hours of the morning.  They each came twice, once in his partner’s mouth, and once in his partner’s ass.  After each orgasm they professed their love for one another.  At last, they showered together, and went to bed.  Andy had already put Joe’s opinion, about the power of wealth, on his back burner.  He decided to ignore it.  He was crazy in love with Joe, despite his bigotry.  At least, that’s what he thought.

Three

The trial finally began at 10:30 AM the next day, and the jurors sat back in their chairs, waiting for the circus to begin.  Secretly, they had all come to the conclusion that the defendant was guilty.  All, that is, except Andy.

The entire morning was taken up by the first woman’s testimony.  The prosecutor kept asking the same questions over and over in different words.  The gist of it could be summed up in a few short sentences:   Mr. Barroni invited her to a party at his home.  She gladly accepted.  When she got there, she learned that she was the only guest.  The defendant plied her with drinks, and finally raped her.  She was certain that the drinks were drugged, or she never would have had sex with him.

Before beginning his cross examination, the defense attorney suggested breaking for lunch.  The jurors were taken to the jury room where they were served tuna fish salad sandwiches with a variety of beverages.  They sat around chatting, and finally they were called back to the courtroom.  The trial resumed at 2 PM.

The jurors were surprised at how few questions the defense attorney asked the witness.

“Can you tell us where, when, and what time the alleged rape occurred?”  He asked.

“Sure.  On December 2nd of last year, in his home, between eight and ten in the evening.”

“Good.  That agrees with the police report.” The attorney said.  “Are you certain of the time and place where you claim you were raped?  Think carefully.  Are you sure you don’t want to change your testimony?”

“I’m positive.”

Abe Schreiber, the defense attorney, smiled and turned toward the judge.  Judge Cindi Bertram was an attractive woman in her late thirties.

“Your honor,” Abe began, “it’s not my intention to cause any further delays, but I’d like to request a short adjournment until 10 AM tomorrow morning.  The witness made certain statements, which I would like to verify.  I assure you, it won’t take long.  I would also like to request permission to continue my cross examination at that time.

The prosecutor had no objections, and the jurors were returned to their hotel rooms.  “It’s going to be a very long trial,” one of them said on the bus. 

Everybody groaned except Andy and Joe.  Each delay merely extended the time they could be together.

The next morning, after everyone was comfortably seated, including the judge, The witness was returned to the witness box, and reminded that she was still under oath.

Mr. Schreiber addressed the judge.  “I would like to introduce some new evidence,” he announced.

“Objection,” the Assistant DA screamed.  “The prosecution has not been made aware of new evidence, and we would like the opportunity to examine it.  I’d like to request a side bar, your honor.”

The judge allowed it, and the two attorneys went into a huddle at the judge’s bench.  The jury could see the prosecutor getting very perturbed.  He returned to his seat looking very unhappy.

“May I continue with my cross examination, your honor?” Schreiber asked.  The judge nodded.

“Miss Martin, I’d like to ask you one more time to give us the date and place of the alleged crime.”

“I’ve told you and the police several times, it was on December 2nd last year, in Mr. Barroni’s New York City apartment.”

Schreiber turned once again to the judge.  “I’d like to enter the new evidence at this time.”  He began to lay out many documents on the bailiff’s desk. 

He continued, “Exhibit A is a copy of Mr. Barroni’s round trip airline ticket to Vancouver, where he was filming the final scenes of his latest movie.   As you can see, he was out of the country on December 2nd.  Exhibits B to K are depositions from the hotel manager, and several of the cast and crew attesting to Mr. Barroni’s presence in Vancouver at the time of his so-called indiscretion.  Everyone who was deposed said that they would be available to testify on behalf of the defendant should it become necessary.  In view of this evidence, I would like to have all charges against Mr. Barroni dismissed.”

“Objection,” the prosecutor said.  “We have one more victim, who deserves to be heard.”

“I don’t mind,” Schreiber said.  “I can always ask for dismissal after I cross examine her.”

Joanne Carter was called to the stand.  She was in her late thirties, overweight, and far from attractive.  The first thought of every male member of the jury, including the gay men, was I’d never want to fuck her.

Joanne recited her story, which was similar to Phyllis Martin’s.  “Mr. Barroni invited me to a Christmas party at his home on the evening of December 23rd.  He filled me with drinks, which I now believe contained drugs, because it turned out that I was the only guest, and it took me a while to realize it.  I was in a fog, and he dragged me into his bedroom, where he raped me.”

“You’re sure that all this occurred on the evening of December 23rd?”

“Yes. Positive.”

Schreiber walked over to the bailiff’s desk and pointed at the new evidence.  “The rest of these exhibits are airline tickets for Mr. Barroni, his wife and two sons.  For their safety, very few people know that he has a wife and kids.  They keep a very low profile. He was celebrating the holiday with them in his home in Aspen.  He was nowhere near his New York City apartment.  Besides all that, he shares that apartment with his family, and would not have brought women there for purposes of sex.”

He looked at the jury as if to say, “See!”  Then he looked at the judge.  “Now, for the second time, I ask that all charges against Carlo Barroni be dismissed.  Mr. Barroni fully intends to prosecute these women for attempted extortion and slander, and we will swear out a warrant for their arrests for perjury.   However, he is willing to drop all charges if the two women will testify to the media that they lied to the police, and they lied under oath in this courtroom, with the object of trying to extort money from him.”

“I have no objection,” the prosecutor stated, completely defeated.  He chided himself for not doing enough homework.  He was seduced by this high profile case, which he hoped would make him famous.  Instead of fame and glory, he was now afraid he’d be a laughingstock.

The judge dismissed the jury and thanked them for their service.  They were bussed back to the hotel to retrieve their personnel belongings, and to resume their lives.

Four

Joe was unusually silent on the ride back to the hotel, and Andy resisted saying, “I told you so.”

Finally, while they were packing their bags, Joe spoke up and shocked the pants off of Andy.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “Barroni has so much money, maybe he paid those women to give false information.   It would be a way of paying them off after all.  He must have known that they’d get caught up in a lie eventually, and he would be deemed innocent.”

“That’s very farfetched and even more ridiculous.  They’d be admitting to criminal offenses.”

“He said he’d drop all charges if they made full admission of guilt to the media.  Maybe he paid them off for his sins after all.”

“Did it ever occur to you that he was just being benevolent to two needy women?”

“Frankly, it didn’t.  These rich fuckers have a motive for everything.  Benevolence is not one of them.”

“Joe, can you take the rest of the day off?” Andy asked.

“Sure, why do you ask?”

“Do me a favor, will you?  Let’s take our bags back to your apartment.  It’s closer than mine.  Then I want you to go someplace with me, and after that, I want to take you out for a celebration dinner.”

“What are we celebrating?” Joe asked.

“I was hoping you’d be willing to celebrate our commitment to each other.”

“I am so willing,” Joe said, and he began another kissing marathon with Andy.

“I just need to make a call.  It’s to my dad.  I want him to meet us someplace,” Andy said. 

As soon as they left Joe’s apartment, Andy hailed a cab, and gave the driver an address on the lower east side.  Joe knew exactly where they were headed.  It was in the neighborhood he grew up in.  He was more than curious, but he remained silent.  If Andy had a surprise for him, he didn’t want to spoil it.

The cab stopped in front of a newly constructed building.  It was a six story modern and magnificent structure compared to the old decaying buildings on all sides of it.  Andy paid the driver and he and Joe got out of the cab.  Andy directed Joe’s attention to the name on the building, The James Calder Building.

“Calder,” Joe said.  “That’s your name, but who’s James?”

“He’s my father, Joe.  He built this place for two reasons.  First, he wanted to begin an urban renewal project for this neighborhood, but the main reason was that he wanted to give a home to unadoptable and un-fosterable children.  You see, he was raised in foster care, but he was handsome and healthy and wanted.  The kids who live here have disabilities, both physical and cognitive.  Nobody wants to foster or adopt them, honey, except my dad.  He had this building constructed to give these kids a happy home life.  He is its sole endower, and he never tries to raise money for these kids.  He takes care of all their needs all by himself.  He spends most of his time here, and he’s finally allowed me to run his business.  I asked him to meet us here.  Would you like to meet him and some of the kids?  They’ll be in classrooms just about now.”

“Are you saying that this building is a school as well as a residence?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Joe was getting a picture here.  Andy’s father was beyond wealthy, and he shared his wealth with these unfortunate people.  “Well.” Andy thought, “he’s the exception that proves the rule.”  Joe remained silent, and let Andy continue talking.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of sheets of paper.  Joe cold see that both pages were full of print.

“What’s this?” Joe asked.

“I researched Carlo Barroni on the internet.  This is a list of charities he contributes to heavily.  Some of them would not be able to continue doing their good work, if it wasn’t for his continuing support.” 

Andy handed the printout to Joe, but Joe didn’t take them.  “I believe you,” he said.

“I can’t say that all rich people are as altruistic as Carlo and my dad, but I want you to see that it’s possible to be a good person and still be rich.  You seem to have lost sight of that.”

“Why do you care so much that I learn that?”

“Because I love you, dufus, and I’m incredibly wealthy.  Don’t throw away what we have for the almighty dollar.  In reverse, that is.”

“How rich is ‘incredibly wealthy’,” Joe asked.

“Joe, darling, my father built his business from the ground up.  It has brought him great wealth.  He’s a multimillionaire, and I am the fortunate beneficiary of his hard labor.  Every day I go to work knowing I must be worthy of my good fortune.  I work my ass off to prove it.”

Joe grabbed Andy and kissed him.  “Of course, you work hard.  I wouldn’t expect less of you.”

“Joe, I have a proposition for you.  My dad really doesn’t have time to run his Foundation and all its activities, including this building.  How would you like to be the executive director of The James Calder Foundation, so my dad can get back to his real business?  I need him to take some of the load off my shoulders.”

“I don’t know about that,” Joe said.  “I might not have the skills for the job.”

“Stop being so negative.  You claim to be a do-gooder.  That’s all the skill you need.”

“How much will my salary be?”  Joe asked.  He was still hung up about his finances.

“Enough to take me out to dinner at least once a month,” Andy laughed.

“I’ll accept the job under one condition,” Joe said.  “I want to do some fund raising.  You can’t be selfish, Andy baby.  You’ve got to give other people the opportunity to do good also.  You know what?  I think I’ll reach out to Carlo Barroni first.”

Just then a bell rang indicating that school was over for the day.  Young children came out of the classrooms.  They didn’t run and scream as most kids would do.  Some of them were walking with crutches, and some were in wheelchairs.  These unfortunate children were helped by the more ambulatory ones.  When he saw the kids, Joe started to cry.  Andy took his hand and led him to his father’s office.  Along the way, Andy introduced Joe to some of the staff and a few of the children. 

James Calder’s office was on the top floor, and Joe noted that the elevators were extra wide and large.  He reasoned that they were built that way to accommodate wheel chairs.  His admiration for Andy’s father was growing.  When he introduced his father, James grabbed Joe and hugged him.  “So, you’re the famous Joseph Gallo.  You’re all Andy has talked about this past week.  Thank you for making him so happy.”

Andy told his father about the job he offered to Joe, and James embraced him once again.  “That’s fantastic,” he said.

“Sorry, Dad,” Andy said, “but Joe and I have lots to do in a very short time.  We have to go.”

“Sure, sure, but I want us to have dinner together Saturday evening with your mother.  It’ll be very intimate, just the four of us, and we’ll get to know each other.”

“It’ll be our pleasure,” Andy said.  “We’ll be in touch.  Just tell us where and when.”

Andy and Joe grabbed a cab.  Once they were on their way back to Joe’s apartment Andy said, “We are going to fuck each other all night, and tomorrow you’re giving notice at work.  On Saturday, you’re moving in with me, and don’t argue.  My place is much larger than yours.  It has two bedrooms and two baths.  After you move in, we’ll fuck some more and then we’ll go meet my folks for dinner.  In case you were wondering if they approve of you, and our relationship, I told him that you were an orphan, and my dad whispered in my ear that he would be honored if you called them mom and dad.”

“That’s the easiest request I’ve ever had to honor.  I’ve wanted a father and a real mother all my life.  But first things first.  Tell me about all that fucking you’re expecting from me.  That’s another request I’d like to honor.” 

Five

Joe and Andy moved in together, and Joe reluctantly adapted to a life which was stress free of financial worries.  His conversion was slow and steady.  He and Andy were very rich, but even so, they lived very simply.  They never flaunted their wealth or cared to live high on the hog.  Instead, Joe expanded the scope of The James Calder Foundation, and actively sought grants and donations from outside sources.  With the additional funds, and with Calder money, he was able to endow other worthy charities, besides the group school and home.  Carl Barroni even asked (begged actually) for a seat on The Board of Directors of The Foundation.

Joe tried to find his mother so that he could help her also, but she had disappeared from her apartment, and Joe couldn’t locate her.  He wasn’t sure if she was alive or dead.

Every day Joe chose to have lunch in the cafeteria with “his children.”  There was one little boy, Timothy Riley, whom everyone called Tiny Tim.  Tim was confined to a wheelchair because of a neuro-natal condition called spina bifida.  The little boy had been abandoned in a hospital lobby shortly after his birth.  He was beautiful, and Joe lost his heart to Timmy.

He and Andy often took Tim on outings with them. and sometimes James and Andy’s mother, Christine, went along with them.  They heard that a charity in the city of Los Angeles was building playgrounds for disabled children.  Joe and Andy flew out there with Timmy, so that he could have the joy of playing in a real playground.  They stayed an entire week.  That year, The Foundation contributed to that charity.

As everyone expected, Joe and Andy started proceedings to adopt Timmy.  It took a couple of red tape filled years, but they were eventually successful.

One day, Joe had an epiphany.  His childhood had been miserable, but he rose above it.  He now he had a chance to pay it forward.  His life had come full circle.  It became clear to him that this was his destiny, which would never have been accomplished if it weren’t for men of great wealth, his husband and his father-in-law.

On the morning of his epiphany, he left Tim and Andy to go somewhere.  He wouldn’t tell them where he was going.  He went to his church.

He sat in a pew, and silently thanked God for the privilege he had been given to help so many unfortunate people.  He smiled to himself, and added a little thank you for having Andy and Timmy in his life.

Posted: 12/17/2021